Carlos Alman, Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B’s father, has stayed mostly out of the spotlight while his daughter rose to fame. He was born in the Dominican Republic on March 19, 1958, and came to the United States in 1990 to create better opportunities for his family. Now at 67 (as of 2025), he has built his life as a taxi driver on New York City’s busy streets.
Carlos’s Dominican heritage and nationality shaped his early years, but his steadfast work ethic as a taxi driver truly defined him. His Afro-Latino immigrant background greatly shaped his daughter Cardi B’s identity as an Afro-Latina. He spent countless hours behind the wheel to provide for his family. Let’s take a closer look at the untold story of the man who raised one of music’s biggest stars – from his early life and career to his family relationships and the lasting effect he’s had on his famous daughter.
Early Life and Immigration
Birthplace and date
Carlos Alman was born on March 19, 1958, in the Dominican Republic. His Caribbean upbringing enriched him with the traditional customs and values of his homeland. The cultural experiences from his early years would later influence his worldview and shape how he raised his own children.
Strong family values became the life-blood of his character. These values guided his approach to parenthood later in life. His original life in the Dominican Republic gave him a deep sense of cultural identity and community that stayed with him throughout his life’s trip.
Carlos Alman’s nationality and ethnicity
Carlos Alman takes pride in his Dominican-American nationality, which reflects both his birth country and his new home. His mixed ethnicity enriched his children’s cultural heritage, including his famous daughter Cardi B, who proudly identifies as Afro-Latina.
His mother Esperanza Almanzar’s influence marked his early years. Public records don’t reveal much about his extended family or education. His mixed ethnic background and Dominican roots remain central to his identity, even after moving to the United States.
Moving to the United States in the 1990s
Carlos Alman left the Dominican Republic in 1990 to seek better opportunities. Like many Caribbean immigrants of that time, he dreamed of economic stability and a brighter future for his family. The Bronx, New York City, became his new home – a neighborhood known for its vibrant and diverse community.
Life changed drastically as he adjusted from island living to New York’s ever-changing streets. Notwithstanding that, he showed remarkable determination in adapting to his new environment. He moved with his then-wife, ready to start their family’s new chapter in America.
His brave choice to immigrate started his American story. Hard work and sacrifice marked his pursuit of better opportunities for himself and his growing family in their new country.
Career and Work Ethic
Working as a taxi driver in New York
Carlos Alman became a New York City taxi driver nine years ago. He chose this career to support his family after they settled in The Bronx neighborhood. Carlos spent his days guiding his taxi through Manhattan’s busy streets and picked up passengers from every background imaginable. His role behind the wheel meant more than earning money—it showed his steadfast dedication to providing for his family in their new country.
Carlos stepped away from taxi driving just as his daughter’s music career took off. His passion for the profession didn’t fade after retirement. He still supports taxi drivers’ rights today.
Challenges of the job and long hours
Life as a New York City taxi driver brought several challenges to Carlos Alman:
- Money troubles: Drivers don’t deal very well with debt cycles because they just need to pay both the city and their vehicle loans at once[91]
- Physical demands and endless hours on the road
- Random daily earnings and tough customers
- Family time versus work duties
Cardi B spoke up about these issues on social media in 2019: “ATTENTION! My dad to this day still campaigns for cab drivers because this is some of the challenges they deal with. You buy a car, you have to pay the city and still pay off your car. You stay in debt forever!”[91]
How his work influenced Cardi B’s values
Carlos Alman’s strong work ethic shaped his daughter’s personality and life approach deeply. His dedication to driving taxis taught Cardi B about persistence and hustle. She drew strength from her father’s example whenever her career hit rough patches.
Carlos Alman did more than put food on the table. His dedication to hard work showed his children real lessons about determination and responsibility. Cardi B often talks about her parents’ struggles—especially her Dominican father’s work ethic—as the force that fueled her own drive and success.
Family and Personal Life
Marriage to Clara Almanzar
Carlos Alman and Clara Almanzar’s love story blossomed right after he arrived in America. They married in 1991, creating a beautiful blend of cultures in their home. Carlos brought his Dominican roots while Clara added her Trinidadian heritage. Their multicultural marriage laid the groundwork for a rich cultural identity that their famous daughter would later showcase in her public life.
Children: Cardi B, Hennessy Carolina, and others
The couple welcomed their first daughter, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar (Cardi B), on October 11, 1992. Their second daughter Hennessy Carolina arrived three years later on December 22, 1995.
Carlos has six children from a previous relationship. His extended family includes:
- Two daughters: Maciel Almanzar and Nicauly Villalona
- Four sons, including Fernando Almanzar[122]
Unlike their famous siblings, these family members have stayed away from the public eye.
Carlos Alman’s age and current residence
Carlos Alman, born on March 19, 1958, is 67 years old as of 2025. He has kept his New York City residence since retiring from his taxi driving career. He prefers a quiet life and stays away from the spotlight.
Divorce and co-parenting after separation
Carlos and Clara’s 14-year marriage ended in 2005. Cardi B was 13 at the time and later shared that the separation didn’t upset her much, as it gave her “more freedom”.
Both parents stayed deeply involved in their daughters’ lives after the divorce. Their steadfast dedication to co-parenting helped shape Cardi B and Hennessy into successful women. Clara has since remarried and now lives with her new husband in the Dominican Republic.
Relationship with Cardi B
Supportive but private father
Carlos Alman, Cardi B’s father, has been a powerful influence in her life though he stays away from the public eye. He chooses to support his daughter quietly instead of seeking attention from her fame. Their bond shows deep mutual respect and admiration. He gives her stability amid the whirlwind of celebrity life.
Carlos has stayed a constant presence throughout her journey. His faith in her abilities helped Cardi B push through countless challenges in the entertainment world. He gave her the rock-solid support that only fathers can, even though her bold style took him some time to understand.
Cardi B’s public comments about her dad
Cardi B often shares her love for her father:
- She calls him “strict, loving, and dependable” in interviews – crediting him for her fierce independent spirit
- Her Instagram post after having her first child read: “I love my parents and my sister. It makes me emotional to know how much they love me! Nothing in this world to repay all the love, help and support they give me”
Back in 2019, Cardi B highlighted her father’s work for taxi drivers on social media: “ATTENTION! My dad to this day still campaigns for cab drivers because this is some of the challenges they deal with”.
Why he avoids media and public appearances
Carlos Alman thinks over his privacy carefully and stays away from interviews and public events with his famous daughters. He values building a lasting legacy over chasing the spotlight.
His stance on privacy became clear in 2019 when Cardi B strongly warned a Univision reporter who tried to film her father without warning. She said: “Don’t put my father on TV because my dad doesn’t walk around with security and you don’t know people that’s gonna harm my dad”. Her protective response shows real safety concerns behind his choice to avoid publicity.
Carlos’s decision to stay in the background while letting Cardi B shine on her own reveals much about his character and parenting style.
Conclusion
Carlos Alman’s story goes beyond being the father of a famous rapper. His experience from the Dominican Republic to the busy streets of New York City showed his remarkable resilience and determination. As a taxi driver, he supported his family financially and taught his children valuable lessons about never giving up and working hard.
Even with his daughter’s quick rise to fame, Carlos stayed true to his private nature. This reflects who he really is – a man who cares more about his family’s legacy than public attention. He chose to avoid the spotlight so Cardi B could shine on her own while he supported her quietly.
Carlos brought his Dominican culture and strong work ethic as a taxi driver that helped shape Cardi B’s identity and ambition. She often talks about how much her father influenced her, which shows the deep effect he had on her success. He stands as proof of the quiet strength many immigrant parents have when they give up everything for their children’s future.
Cardi B engages audiences worldwide with her bold personality, but her father Carlos Alman stays true to the values that guided him through years of hard work. His untold story reminds us that successful public figures often have parents whose hidden sacrifices and steady support made their success possible. Though he prefers to stay away from fame, his influence continues to shape one of music’s biggest stars.
FAQs
Q1. What is Carlos Alman’s background and occupation? Carlos Alman is a Dominican-American who immigrated to the United States in 1990. He worked as a taxi driver in New York City for about nine years to support his family.
Q2. How has Carlos Alman influenced Cardi B’s career? Carlos Alman’s strong work ethic and dedication as a taxi driver significantly shaped Cardi B’s values, instilling in her the importance of perseverance and hustle, which have been crucial to her success in the music industry.
Q3. Why does Carlos Alman avoid public appearances? Carlos Alman prefers to maintain his privacy and avoid media attention. This decision is based on personal values and safety concerns, allowing his daughter Cardi B to shine independently in the spotlight.
Q4. How many children does Carlos Alman have? Carlos Alman has at least eight children. He has two daughters, Cardi B and Hennessy Carolina, with his ex-wife Clara Almanzar, and reportedly six children from a previous relationship.
Q5. What is Carlos Alman’s relationship with Cardi B like? Carlos Alman maintains a supportive but private relationship with Cardi B. He has been a constant presence in her life, offering unwavering support throughout her career while choosing to stay out of the public eye.
